One of Australia’s most engaging and dynamic performers and producers, JOELISTICS is back with his first new music release since 2023’s ANALOG GUNK served as a potent reminder of innovation and talent.
The new single, ‘LIGHT WORK’, bursts with vibrancy and charisma. A striking blend of rhythm and bass that meets a core sound familiar to Joelistics’ previous work, both as a solo artist and as a founding member of influential Australian hip hop collective TZU, ‘Light Work’ is a fitting return and sees Joelistics look toward a new creative chapter with invigoration and excitement.
Produced by Joelistics and featuring guest vocals from Bea Lewis (Haiku Hands), as well as added instrumentation courtesy of Dan West (Cookin On 3 Burners), ‘Light Work’ saw Joelistics lean back into a lifelong love for hip hop in its many forms: from the boom bap beats that sit at the genre’s foundation, through to the trailblazing production style of artists such as A Tribe Called Quest, The Neptunes, Dilla, De La Soul and Flying Lotus.
Early inspiration to get back into his hip hop bag stemmed from Joelistics’ time spent participating in Elefant Traks’ series of anniversary concert events around Australia in 2024.
The ability to revisit his history with the label and through it, perform his rap catalogue for audiences of long time and new fans alike, awoke an urge to create again.
Lyrically, ‘Light Work’ is built around a core message of unity and respect, while also demonstrating Joelistics enduring love for the craft – for beatmaking, through to instrumentation and the creation of music with an impact.
“At this point, in my mid-’40s, I thought I’d left rap behind. If anything, I was slightly embarrassed by ‘Aussie Hip Hop’ from back in the day, but doing the ET shows and hanging out with old colleagues and collaborators, I felt energised and curious. What was it we were trying to say back in 2005? What originally drew me to rap and what, today do I still love about hip hop?
When my four and a half year old daughter grows up, I want her to vibe out to ‘Bonita Applebum’ and get lost in the swing of a Dilla beat, and follow the effortlessly funky flow of Digible Planets and De La Soul. I also want her to see a worth in hearing music that sounds like the voices and stories over your back fence, that specify your experience, rather than tractor beam you into a globalised corporate market tested billion streaming rap beef music profit machine.” JOELISTICS
A self-declared ‘renaissance artist’, Joelistics has been marching to the beat of his own drum from the beginning of his career. Recent years have seen him work consistently between the worlds of contemporary art, music and theatre; all the while developing his own music and exploring unique creative influences outside of the multitude of commissioned works attached to his name.
A series of solo albums and collaborative projects – Voyager (2011), Blue Volume (2014), Joelistics Presents Film School (2021), Analog Gunk (2023) – all speak to Joelistics’ savvy talent for storytelling and weaving in and out of sonic experimentation and style.
An AIR Award nominee, he has produced for a diverse range of artists including Haiku Hands, Ecca Vandal, Nas, Madonna and Hermitude, while also collaborating on Mo’Ju’s ARIA nominated Native Tongue project.
“His work is diverse and experimental, and he demonstrates a nuanced understanding of a broad range of music. His lyrics are witty, introspective and insightful and he offers a perspective that I believe is vital in this current climate.” MO’JU
With the release of ‘Light Work’, Joelistics embarks on a new creative arc – it is one that is exciting for the artist and undoubtedly, audiences alike.